Even before Sons of Anarchy wrapped up its seven-season run, there were rumblings that some sort of prequel or spinoff series was in the works. The series was officially announced last year and will revolve around "a prospect in the Mayan MC charter on the California/Mexico border who struggles with his desire for vengeance against the cartel as well as his need for respect from the women he loves." Production on Mayans MC will get started next month, and now Deadline has reported that the lead role has finally been cast.

The outlet reports that J.D. Pardo (Revolution, East Los High) has landed the role of Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes, the "gifted son of a proud Latino family, whose American dream was snuffed out by cartel violence. Now, his need for vengeance drives him toward a life he never intended and can never escape." Mayans MC will be set in a post-SOA world and will be scripted by Kurt Sutter and Elgin James, with Sutter directing the pilot as well. Pardo joins the already cast Clayton Cardenas (American Crime) and John Ortiz (FAST & FURIOUS) as well as Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), who will be playing EZ's father, Felipe Reyes. After years of being crushed by bullets and labor, the Reyes family's formerly strong patriarch struggles to keep his past buried and lead his own sons down a lawful and righteous path.